Joe N. Mendez

As you might know, this is Joe Mendez, and the good Lord has called me to his Kingdom on Thursday, November 30, 2017. There will be a Viewing at Anderson Bethany Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, 8:00 AM-6:00 PM, followed by a Rosary at 6:00 PM. A Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at South Park Cemetery. Celebrate Joe’s life by visiting www.andersonbethany.com to offer a memory or expression of sympathy for his family.
I would like to tell you a little about myself. I was born in El Paso, Texas, on September 1, 1950, but lived in Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. I was raised by my mother, Concepcion (Concha) and my grandmother, Soledad (Chole), they loved me with all their heart. We crossed over to the United States in 1959 or 1960, and landed in Roswell, New Mexico, which I loved.
I got my education at Flora Vista Elementary School, Mesa Middle School and Goddard High School. I graduated from Goddard High School in 1971. After graduation, I worked for Glover Packing Company, Highway Department and finally, for the City of Roswell State Department and worked there for twenty-five years, then retired in 2005.
I met the love of my life, Annita Mendez in the fourth grade at Flora Vista Elementary School. She was as cute as a bug and now she is a beautiful woman. In 1970, Annita and I were both juniors at Goddard High School, and we were in love. I wanted to join the service; the Vietnam War was going on at the time. Our plans were to get married after I returned from the service but that didn’t happen. Instead, we eloped and got married on April 7, 1970. The day before we eloped I was shooting baskets at the Boys and Girls Club at Eastside, my friends and I did that on a daily basis. Annita came to the Boys Club, she was very upset, and she didn’t want to go back home. I don’t remember who asked who to get married, but we eloped to Seminole, in West Texas, and got married. We were too young to marry in New Mexico.
Annita blessed me with three beautiful children: Jose Luis, Carlos Juan and my purple angel, Elza Ann. They blessed us with seven grandchildren: Anthony (A.O), Jose Luiz (Chapulin), Carizma (Little Hefer), Alyza (Silent Terror), Daniel (El Indio), Zeanna (Little Z) and Breanna (My Love).
In 1982, I took my family on vacation to California. I knew that my biological father and family lived there, but I had no intentions of meeting the rest of the family, just him. I was thirty-two years old then and thought that the family would not accept me, man was I wrong. My father Narciso and Carolina had a family of five brothers and three sisters. My dad Narciso and Carolina were wonderful Christian people that truly loved me and my family.
Those left to cherish Joe’s memory are his loving wife, Annita Mendez; sons: Jose Luis “Joe” Mendez (Modesta), Carlos J. Mendez (Holly); daughter, Elza Mendez; grandchildren: Anthony Ornelas, Jose Mendez, Carizma Mendez, Alyza Mendez, Daniel Mendez, Zeanna Mendez, Breanna Mendez; siblings: Maria Avila (Andy), Oliva Tirado (Frank), Sonia Porros (Steve), Soledad Marquez (Patrick), Sylvia Garza (Manuel), Frank Mendez (Letty), Fernando Mendez, Ramon Mendez (Cristy), Ofelia Ramos (Arturo), Leticia Garcia (Jesse), George Mendez (Diana); and loving pet, Lucky.
Preceding Joe in death were his parents: Narciso Mendez and Concepcion Garcia; grandparents: Soledad Sandoval and Natividad Garcia; and brother, Narciso (Chicho) Mendez.
Those chosen as Honorary Pallbearers will be: Anthony Ornelas, Jose Luiz Mendez and Daniel Mendez.
Pall Bearers are: Joe L. Mendez, Carlos J. Mendez, Frank Mendez, Fernando Mendez, Jorge Mendez and Ramon Mendez.
This lovely tribute was previously written by Joe.